Bennett urges team to press

SCOT Bennett says Exeter City have to act more like the home side at St James's Park if they are going to turn around their form on their own ground this season.

City haven't won at home since beating Wimbledon 2-0 on November 6.

They looked set to end that trend against Barnet on Saturday when they were leading 2-0 with 14 minutes to go, but they let the lead slip. It followed on from a 3-1 defeat at home to Oxford United on Boxing Day and Bennett says the players must take responsibility for the poor results.

"We sat down after the Oxford game and had a chat, because it wasn't good enough," said Bennet. "He (Tisdale) wasn't happy with the way we were sitting off players and not getting in their faces.

"We are at home and we should be the ones pressing the game."

Speaking about the Barnet game, Bennet added: "The first half it was absolutely brilliant, but in the second for some reason we sat off and didn't press the same.

"It is why we lost. The energy wasn't quite the same as it was in the first half and we sat back, especially when the seven minutes of injury time went up at the end of the game.

"We sat down deep and let them attack us, which was a silly thing to do.

"You can't sit back and you can't let them keep pressing like we did."

Bennett played in a couple of different positions during Exeter City's games in December.

Against Plymouth Argyle, on Saturday December 15, and Oxford United, on Boxing Day, he played some part of the match in defence.

However, against Barnet he operated in a midfield role and put in a performance that earned him the man-of-the-match award and saw him score his third goal of the season.

However, Bennett admits he doesn't mind where he plays.

"I prefer to play centre midfield, but I'm happy to play at the back. As long as I'm on the pitch I don't mind," he said.